And you thought the last Rockets-Spurs game got messy.
During Houston’s win over San Antonio last night, Russell Westbrook threw a pass directly into a fan’s drink, creating an explosion of liquid. The ball went into the seats, and Trey Lyles — trying to be helpful — poked it out. But he popped the ball into another fan’s drink.
The look on the second fan’s face is absolutely priceless.
Houston had no cap space last summer. But a star – Jimmy Butler – was available. So, of course Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was interested.
Morey reportedly lined up a Clint Capela trade if Houston could’ve gotten Butler. But that still left other challenges:
- Convincing Butler to come
- Convincing the 76ers to sign-and-trade Butler
- Trading Eric Gordon or P.J. Tucker
- Building a supporting cast while hard-capped
Just how close did the Rockets come to executing that plan?
The Rockets wanted to pay Jimmy Butler the four-year max, and he ghosted them. They thought they had him, and he left them hanging.
I don’t know the teams, the destinations. But they had trades lined up for Capela and Gordon, and they were ready to pay Jimmy Butler. They really liked their chances and then, suddenly, Jimmy had other thoughts.
I wonder how Butler would characterize the situation. This was a turbulent time for him as he sought a max contact. Houston’s confidence might have been more wishful thinking.
Ultimately, Butler joined the Heat in a sign-and-trade. Butler and Miami look like a perfect fit. Philadelphia landed a quality young player in Josh Richardson, whose lower salary allowed the 76ers to add Al Horford.
Were the Rockets really going to make a better offer to Butler and Philadelphia? It seems most likely Houston just came up short.
But it’s still interesting to explore where the Rockets would be if they executed this transaction. Would Houston have still traded Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook? There were real issues between Paul and James Harden, though maybe the incumbent stars would’ve given it another shot with Butler. The Rockets would have also still had the first-round picks sent to the Thunder. Building depth would’ve been difficult, but keeping Tucker would’ve been huge, and those picks could have been used in other trades.
The Knicks didn’t sign Kevin Durant. They didn’t sign Kyrie Irving. They didn’t sign Kawhi Leonard.
But New York did sign several players last summer.
Only one — Julius Randle — received a fully guaranteed salary beyond this season. Yet, he’s not necessarily a long-term keeper.
an NBA source said it is believed that the Knicks would be open to moving Randle, though he has the contract locked in for next season.
The Knicks just traded a young star in Kristaps Porzingis! I hope they’re open to trading a middling starter on a lousy team.
My hope is this leaking to the public signals more significant Randle trade discussions. At face value, this report doesn’t mean much. It’d be bigger news if New York weren’t open to trading Randle.
Good luck finding a taker, though.
Most bad teams would rather remain bad and reap the draft rewards than add a floor-raiser like Randle. Few good teams need another big. On the best teams, Randle’s ball-stopping and defensive limitations would become bigger issues. It’s one thing to lead the Knicks in usage. It’s another to post a high usage with star teammates. Deep in the playoffs, opponents would also pick on Randle defensively.
The Knicks showed, at last check, they value Randle more than anyone else. That’s why they got him. Was anyone else guaranteeing him $40.9 million for two seasons (including a partial guarantee on a third season)? Has Randle done anything since free agency to make teams regret getting outbid by New York? I doubt it.
The Kings have a reputation.
John Calipari coached enough future Kings at Memphis and Kentucky to know it well. DeMarcus Cousins most notably had problems with Sacramento. So did Tyreke Evans. Calipari even got a chance to evaluate the Kings up close when they gauged his interest in him.
So, when Sacramento drafted Willie Cauley-Stein No. 6 in 2015, his college coach provided insight.
Cauley-Stein, via Logan Murdock of NBC Sports Bay Area:
“Before I got drafted there, [University of Kentucky] coach [John Calipari] kind of warned me what that organization was like already,” Cauley-Stein admitted. “So, I mean, I just went in there just trying to get better. Every year just try to keep on getting better, and that’s the way I approached the game and every day.”
Cauley-Stein’s tenure in Sacramento didn’t bear much fruit. The team never made the playoffs. His development was uneven. By the end, both sides were ready to move on.
Despite a bigger offer from the Hornets, Cauley-Stein signed with the Warriors for two years, $4,463,840 with a player option. He hasn’t really stood out in Golden State.
Maybe Cauley-Stein’s career would be in similar shape no matter where he began it. Some of his issues are more internal than external. And again, joining the Warriors hasn’t exactly jumpstarted his career.
But perhaps spending his formative professional years amid so much dysfunction had a real and lasting effect. This is why other top draft prospects have tried to avoid Sacramento. Remember, the NBA’s draft system generally places the best young prospects in the worst organizations.
At least the Kings – led by another former Calipari player, De'Aaron Fox – are climbing from the basement now.
The Pelicans rebuffed trade inquiries into Jrue Holiday last season. New Orleans then underwent regime change, but new lead executive David Griffin stated even more faith in Holiday.
However, the Pelicans lost 12 straight to fall to 6-21.
Marc Stein of The New York Times:
While mired in a 12-game losing streak, New Orleans indeed remains reluctant to trade JJ Redick, according to league sources, on top of the team's two presumed untouchables: Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 17, 2019
Yet what that also means is Jrue Holiday is indeed available via trade, league sources say. It would surely cost a significant amount to pry him away from the Pels, but this is a notable change in status given how unavailable Holiday was to interested teams last season
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 17, 2019
Holiday played at an All-NBA third-team level last season. The 29-year-old hasn’t been as sharp this season, but he remains good and would presumably tighten his defense on a better team. Holiday could become the best player traded this season.
If another team is willing to surrender a ton.
Plenty of teams should at least consider it. Holiday can play either guard position. He’s a quality two-way contributor. With a $26,131,111 salary this season and next plus a $27.02 million player option the following year, he comes with some team control.
It’d be foolish for New Orleans not to at least consider trading Holiday. He could have more value to another team that’s still playing for something this season.
The same appears true with 35-year-old J.J. Redick. Like with Holiday, the Pelicans don’t have to trade Redick. Redick is locked up another season. New Orleans can keep him for an attempt to win next year. Still, it’s probably worth at least exploring the market.
Zion Williamson obviously isn’t going anywhere. The Pelicans should keep Brandon Ingram past the trade deadline only if they’re willing to give him a max contract in restricted free agency next summer. They should be and probably are.
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